Distillation mechanism and system

ABSTRACT

A distillation system comprising: a vaporizing kettle; an auxiliary pressurizing boiler connected at its input to the output of the kettle; a condenser heat exchanger connected at its input to the output of the boiler and having a plurality of spaced taps from which distillate can be removed; supplementary cooling tower in circulating flow relationship with the exchanger; a like plurality of distillate storage vessels; and means connecting each tap to the input of the corresponding vessel.

United States Patent Williams 1 Aug. 26, 1975 DISTILLATION MECHANISM AND SYSTEM ,5 ,8 11/1951 Piros et H 86 X I 2,777,5l4 l/l957 Eckstrom..... [59/13 A X [76] Inventor, Robert L. Williams, 1219 $109,870 11/1963 Kuhn et aL v A I H [Sq/l8 Noflhwood Commerce 3,310,487 3/1967 Johnson et a1. .1 202/181 x 37203 3,495,951 2/1970 Tanaka et al 165/91 I 3,514,375 /1970 Dambrine 1, 202/173 [22] 1973 3,664,928 5 1972 Roberts 1 1 1 159 23 R 2 App] 353 83 1691020 9/1972 Hughes 159/2 MS X Primary Examiner-Jack Sofer [52] U.S. Cl. 202/167; 202/180; 202/195; 159/D1G. 1; 165/141; 165/161 [51] Int. C11... B01D 3/00; F288 1/02; F28D 7/10; [57] ABSTRACT 2 1 7 A distillation system comprising: a vaporizing kettle; [58] Field of Search 202/153. 155 156' 170 an auxiliary pressurizing boiler connected at its input 202/172, 173, 177, 180, 182, 1831 |33, to the output of the kettle; a condenser heat ex- 86, 187 194 [95' 196, 198, 202 changer connected at its input to the output of the 159/2 MS [8 178, 28 R, R boiler and having a plurality of spaced taps from 165/161, 164; 203/140, 141, 89, 90, 87 which distillate can be removed; supplementary cooling tower in circulating flow relationship with the ex- [56] Reerences Cited changer; a like plurality of distillate storage vessels; UNITED STATES PATENTS and means connecting each tap to the input of the corresponding vessel. l,87l,0l9 8/1932 Walker 203/87 X 1,900,556 3/1933 Hitchcock .1 165/90 X 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures VENT TRAP wow 24 c0011" F [inn/111cm l /2 J gtwummsmaum {i 4 46000111111 m-couotlsmz M TOWER SEFARATOR I0 559 won /5 mfg Jens c011 momma i 39 l 36 Z "2 1511 -/a 37 m2 1 6 LE 22 1 1 Ll 3 1 1mm 54 o 38 0001111 '5/ mar mm 01111151 55 2 2 :E VALVE WE 32 34 CIHLLER FEED PUMP EXFMISIUII I I -r TANK 20 i --E nrsmur DST L E IL ELECTRICAL mm Q 1171mm mm DISTILLATION MECHANISM AND SYSTEM SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have invented a new and highly improved distillation mechanism and system to obtain separation and purification of liquids. It is specifically intended for reclaiming polluting chemicals while simultaneously producing pure water and/or other liquid carriers.

Unique devices and features accomplish this most reliable method known with unequaled economy. Heats of the boiling vapors are absorbed in the condenser unit by the incoming raw substances to be boiled just prior to entry into the boiling kettle. This causes the liquid being processed to be at almost boiling temperatures when heat is applied only for this purpose.

The mechanism is constructed of existing materials, properly selected to resist all chemicals and proposed temperatures. using low cost control equipment and materials that compare favorably with conventional like mechanisms. Methods of manufacturing are of common practice and the mechanism has an inherently long operating life.

All requirements for properly distilling liquids are complied with. Included are the best of existing practice plus unique techniques of equalizing heat necessities by useful exchange in condenser and kettle vapor phase separation, the use of added internal cooling surface for condensing, an auxiliary boiler like decomposer of azeotropic solutions. and a naturally operating pressure relief valve. All are combined into one most effectively and simple operating mechanism.

My invention compares favorably to prior systems but has the following specific advantages:

1. Cost for operating energy is reduced by more than five fold.

2. Raw liquids of any type or mixes thereof may be processed.

3. Solids and semi-solids are recovered as a high concentrated residue.

4. Processing time is reduced as are beating requirements.

5. Only inert gas escapes to the atmosphere (and may be simply trapped).

6. Either single batch or continuous operation is available.

7. Multiple operations normally performed for separation and purifying of most aqueous and azeotropic solutions require only one of the two possible operation methods provided.

8. Waste chemicals are, in most instances, readied for reuse on recovery.

A few of the more important uses for this distillary system which result from the above advantages are:

l. To control future water resources and to rid water resources of contamination while recovering the chemicals and water involved.

2. Refining of organic substances as oils, petroleum,

waxes, etc.

3. To provide drinking water from seas, sewages or other like sources.

4. To conserve and possibly restore natural chemical, mineral water. and wild-life resources. In any application the recovered substance or substances are much more valuable than the cost of equipment and operation involved.

5. Antipollution becomes an asset in place of costly liabilities for industry or individual users.

BRIEF DESFRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view of the system in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 33 of FIG. I, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings, the following parts have the following numbers:

10 vaporizing kettle I2 condenser-heat exchanger 14 residue outlet 16 vapor phase separator 18 thermostatically controlled heater 20 inner dome and shell 22 inlet flow valve, level controlled 24 uncondensable trap-ventilator 26 raw liquid diffuser 28 uncondensable vapor passage 30 return line 32 coolant feed pump 34 coolant feed valve 36 inner supplementary cooler 37 bulbed vapor enclosure 38 drain line and condensor support 39 bulb flow spreader 40 drain control valve 42 pressure relief valve 44 storage drain off valve (can be used for delivering heated condensate water to steam generators) 46 distillate stowage 48 supplementary cooling tower 50 feed line and pump 52 raw liquid intake or feedline 54 auxiliary boiler, pressurizing 56 chiller gas coil 58 chiller gas expansion tank 60 chiller gas compresser 62 inn'er coolant chiller 63 progressive chambers 64 heaters 66 check valves 68 inlet valve to auxiliary boiler 69 outlet flow valve to kettle 70 tubular ring 72 inner shell 74 inner dome 76 lateral hole 80 raw liquid diffuser 82 raw liquid cooling area 84 internal cooling area 86 vapor condensing area 88 kettle feed outlet 90 distillate outlet FIGS. 1-4 exhibit the arrangement of devices and the mechanism which all function in the following manner.

The kettle l0 boils or vaporizes the liquid most effi ciently by heating centrally. The inner dome and shell 20 flows the liquid down the outer parimeters to insulate or keep heats inside by absorbing and returning such back into the main heating area. To obtain auti matic and more proper liquid level control. an electrical conductivity cell T is used to operate the inlet flow valve 22. A manually controlled residue outlet valve 14 permits the extent of distillation reduction desired and depends on raw liquid characteristics. An electrical heater 18 is shown and utilized due that close heat control is provided and no air pollution problems created. If other type heaters are desirable they may be used optionally.) The volatile fractions, dependent upon raw liquid character and the heater temperature selected setting, escape the kettle through a spout affixed with a sieve like device 16 that initiates vapor molecule separation, effecting purity of condensation immediately following. (This device was introduced since radiant energy can be so divided and diffracted into desired spectra by similar grating.)

The condenser 12 liquefies heated vapors produced by the kettle l and additionally serves as a heat exchanger. Ordinary condenser systems only cool the vapors and the coolant is discharged (wasted) hot or re cooled. This condenser utilizes the raw liquid to be distilled as the coolant and discharges it into the distillation kettle. The unit is slanted to allow lighter vapors to float slowly upward where cooling is greater and also to permit complete emptying. Escaping vapors are conducted through the condenser between two cooling or heat exchange surfaces or bulbed tubular enclosures 37 being matched as shown. The outer surfaces exchange most of the vapor heats, with the cooler raw substances being flowed into the kettle. The inner surface, operating somewhat colder, promotes complete condensation of the vapor fraction involved at the bulb by continually seeding the appropriate liquid causing capillary attraction. As in ordinary systems higher boiling point fractions of liquids condense first nearer the kettle which occurs immediately when the vapors are reduced to the initial boiling point of the respective liquid minus l Fahrenheit (latent heat).

The mating bulbs form a trap and enlarged cooling surface for the appropriate vapor fraction to condense into liquid that is recovered. A small uncondensable vapor pass 28 connects the larger vapor enclosure bulbs 37 to prevent trapping of such gases therein that would create useless space and surfaces. The inner bulb 36 is a supplementary cooling surface that utilizes minimal yet adequate fluid flowing along its outer surface as accomplished by inserting the bulb flow spreader 39. The raw liquid feed equally distributes the incoming raw substance sufficiently over the larger condenser bulbs 37 for more effective cooling and extraction of closer and narrow boiling point liquid fractions. Uncondensable gases or vapors are naturally forced through a trap 24 of appropriate absorbent media just before venting. (Commercially available activated carbon, ion-exchange resins, silica-gel, or zeolite will serve the media purpose of removing all active or harmful gaseous chemicals.) The outlet vent is tubular and pointed downward to protect from weather and to permit easy attachment of vacuum that is necessary to prevent cracking of low molecular weight hydrocarbons by heats of boiling, and the separation of most aqueous and azeotropic solutions at lower than boiling point temperatures under l atmosphere pressure. Vacuum will also speed distillation rates of all liquids but the energy cost would be greater than that for operating this mechanism. Also the disease causing bacteria will not be killed under vacuum heats. when drinking or potable water is desired.

Storage of distillate. (condensed vapors of boiling fractions). include the drain lines 38 from the condenser which also support that unit. Drain valves 40 control the flow and are opened only when the lines are filled. These may be either automatically or manually operated. A pressure release valve 42 of conventional type and on the drawings on each storage tank 46 provides for safety therein. Its weight closes the device after it is opened by excessive inside pressures, and the cover rim protects from exterior contamination when open at low pressure. This device is also unique in its simplicity in providing positive operation without de pendence on added highly critical, yet integral, parts. The storage release valve 44 is common for manually emptying storage vessels.

Raw liquid feed 52 necessitates a pump 50 for transfer of substances to the distillation mechanism as convenient for the user. For peak operation it should be adjusted at some l0 pounds per square inch pressure in normal (relatively small) operations. The raw liquid feed distribution inside the condenser was discussed above except that a perforated pipe will serve the purpose. I

The cooling system and coolant for the inner bulb of this distillary mechanism use conventional devices, equipment, materials. These consist of a cooling tower 48, chilling container with coil 56, a gaseous refrigerant, compressor and expansion chamber 58.

The auxillary boiler 54 is intended for thermally separating the very few azeotropic. constant boiling point mixtures (CBM) solutions only if the separation cannot be done with reduced pressure (vacuum). This is accomplished by progressive heating in cylindrical cham bers 63 separated by heating elements 64 and the chambers being connected with one way check valves 66. This permits heating and pressure control of liquid and vapor constituents as individually applicable, especially where multiple substances make up the emotrope. Such a progressive heating system is more advantageous since thermal separation of otherwise unseparable components of vapor phases are exposed to that individual necessary heat without dependence of extremely high pressure as normally acquired and required in conventional mechanisms and methods, unless prior separation has been performed. The release pressures for the valves may be predetermined and installed as fixed releases for applicable solutions or adjustable release pressure to permit various type solution processing. This type boiler is also advantageously applicable to produce steam for generating electricity to power the mechanism if the need arises. To produce steam pure water. obtained as herein disclosed, is necessary.

The materials of construction for the mechanism should withstand all chemicals and environments to l000F which is adequate for superheated steam heat generation.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and asserted as new is:

l. A distillation system comprising:

a condenser-heat exchanger with separate first, second and third flow paths directed therethrough. the

5 6 first flow path being traversed by liquid which is to receive distillate condensed therein; and be distilled, the second flow path being traversed a bypassable auxiliary boiler disposed between the by heated vapors which are to be condensed and condenser and kettle in the first flow path, the the third flow path being traversed by a recycled boiler having a plurality of chambers connected in coolant. the paths being concentric in the order 5 series with one way check valves connected be named so directed that the vapors in the second tween successive chambers, and further having a flow path lose their heat both to the liquid which like plurality of heaters, each heater heating a coris to be distilled and to the recycled coolant; responding chamber. means for recycling the coolant and removing heat 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the vaporizing ketthat is transferred thereto; [0 tle incorporates a heater, and wherein the heater in the a vaporizing kettle receiving liquid that has traversed kettle is of the electrical type.

the first flow path and has been heated therealong, 3. The device of claim 2 wherein an electrolytic cell the kettle vaporizing the liquid and directing it into disposed in the kettle cooperates with a valve disposed the second flow path; between the auxiliary boiler and the kettle along the a plurality of tanks communicating with the second first flow path to control the level ofliquid in the kettle.

flow path along axially displaced points thereon to 

1. A DISTILLATION SYSTEM COMPRISING: A CONDENSER-HEAT EXCHANGER WITH SEPERATE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD FLOW PATHS DIRECTED THERETHROUGH THE FIRST FLOW PATH BEING TRAVERSED BY LIQUID WHICH IS TO BE DISTILLED, THE SECOND FLOW BEING TRAVERSED BE HEATED VAPORS WHICH ARE TO BE CONDENSED AND THE THIRD FLOW PATH BEING TRAVERSED BY A RECYCLED COOLANT, THE PATHS BEING CONCENTRIC IN THE ORDER NAMED SO DIRECTED THAT THE VAPORS IN THE SECOND FLOW PATH LOSE THEIR HEAT BOTH TO THE LIQUID WHICH IS TO BE DISTILLED AND TO THE RECYCLED COOLANT, MEANS FOR RECYCLING THE COOLANT AND REMOVING HEAT THAT IS TRANSFERRED THERETO, A VAPORIZING KETTLE RECEIVING LIQUID THAT HAS TRAVERSED THE FIRST FLOW PATH AND HAS BEEN THEREALONG, THE KETTLE VAPORIZING THE LIQUID AND DIRECTING IT INTO THE SECOND FLOW PATH,
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the vaporizing kettle incorporates a heater, and wherein the heater in the kettle is of the electrical type.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein an electrolytic cell disposed in the kettle cooperates with a valve disposed between the auxiliary boiler and the kettle along the first flow path to control the level of liquid in the kettle. 